Scaling up smart and clean energy solutions for affordability in EU cities

LIFE-2026 is a single-stage LIFE Clean Energy Transition call (opening 21 April 2026, deadline 16 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time) that will select one consortium to establish EmpowerEUcities to scale up proven smart distributed energy solutions in LIFE-eligible cities through capacity building, peer exchange and signed scale-up roadmaps. The topic has an indicative EU contribution of €6,000,000 with a 95% funding rate for Other Action Grants, expects lump-sum third-party financial support to represent around 70% of the project budget (maximum lump sum €60,000 per local authority) and requires the awardee to run at least two calls for lump-sum grants. Eligible applicants are legal entities from LIFE-eligible countries submitting a consortium of at least three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries, and proposals will be evaluated on relevance, credible quantified impacts (project end and five years post-project) and implementation quality including transparent third-party award processes.

What it funds

Scope at a glance

One implementing consortium will be selected to set up EmpowerEUcities:an integrated support initiative that provides capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, monitoring, communication and financial support (lump-sum grants) to local authorities and stakeholders to scale up demonstrated smart, clean and energy-efficient solutions that improve energy affordability in EU cities. Activities include development of standardised scale-up roadmaps, site-level pre-feasibility and planning support, lump-sum awards to local authorities, monitoring and capitalisation of results.

Key financial features:Indicative EU contribution: up to €6 000 000; funding rate 95% (Other Action Grants). Lump-sum grants should represent around 70% of the project budget; max lump-sum per local authority €60 000. Proposals may request other amounts but €6 million is considered appropriate ¹.

1. 1One single proposal will be selected to run EmpowerEUcities
2. 2Lump-sum calls: minimum two calls; CINEA validates final award criteria
3. 3Lump-sum recipients: local authorities located in LIFE-eligible countries (SECAP or equivalent required)

Who can apply / eligibility

Lead applicant must form a consortium with deep municipal sustainable energy expertise. Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries. The consortium should demonstrate ability to mobilise a critical mass of cities, work with city networks (e.g. Covenant of Mayors), manage calls for third-party support in line with EU rules and develop scale-up roadmaps signed at executive level by local stakeholders.

Eligible third parties and targets:Lump-sum recipients are local authorities in LIFE-eligible countries; other stakeholders (system operators, energy agencies, ESCOs, community actors, financiers, installers) are targeted by capacity building and roadmap development activities.

Timing and submission

Opening date 21 April 2026. Deadline 16 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Evaluation focus and required outputs

Evaluators will prioritise proposals that show clear causality from activities to quantified impacts, strong city outreach and mobilisation, robust third-party awarding processes (transparent, conflict-of-interest-free), standardised roadmap methodology, and a monitoring framework that reports results at project end and 5 years after. Quantitative indicators include number of scale-up roadmaps, smart local energy solutions implemented, investments triggered, energy and CO2 impacts, and capacity-building metrics.

1. 1Scale-up roadmaps agreed with local stakeholders and undersigned at executive level
2. 2Minimum two calls for lump-sum grants to local authorities
3. 3Monitoring of commitments for at least one year post-award (and quantification at project end and +5 years)

Where to apply and documentation

Submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Full call documentation, application templates, detailed budget tables, and LIFE call documents are available on the Portal and must be followed precisely.

Official portal:Apply through the Portal: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. See the Call document and annexes for admissibility, eligibility, evaluation and award criteria.

Footnotes

1. 1The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to €6 million would allow the objectives to be addressed appropriately; this is indicative and proposals requesting other amounts may be accepted if justified in the application.

Call and Administrative Details

Call title:LIFE Clean Energy Transition. Topic code: LIFE-2026. Type of action: LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) — Other Action Grants (OAGs) / Coordination and Support Action elements. Type of Model Grant Agreement: LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG]. Opening date: 21 April 2026. Deadline date: 16 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage. Submission channel: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (electronic submission).

Indicative available budget and typical EU contribution:Indicative budget for the EMPOWER topic: €6,000,000 (call-level). The Commission considers proposals requesting up to €6 million from the EU appropriate. Funding rate: Other Action Grants (OAGs) — 95%.

Purpose, Scope and Expected Impact

Objective:Set up and manage the EmpowerEUcities integrated initiative to accelerate scaling up of demonstrated smart distributed energy solutions in European cities to improve energy affordability and facilitate local consumption and production of renewable energy. The action includes capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, lump-sum grants to local authorities to develop scale-up roadmaps, monitoring, capitalisation and communication. One proposal will be selected to run this integrated initiative across LIFE-eligible countries.

Core outputs and required deliverables:Mandatory outputs include: establishment and management of EmpowerEUcities initiative; minimum two calls for lump-sum third-party grants to local authorities; delivery and finalisation of scale-up roadmaps signed at executive level by local stakeholders; capacity building and peer-to-peer activities; monitoring framework, capitalisation and dissemination materials; selection, award and monitoring processes for lump-sum grants in line with EU standards. Lump sum grants should represent approximately 70% of the project budget; maximum lump sum per local authority €60,000.

Focus of the roadmaps:specific smart local energy solutions based on successful demonstrators from EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE CET, Scalable Cities). Examples: energy sharing, community-scale storage, other storage solutions, bi-directional EV charging infrastructure, energy management systems, heating and cooling systems, micro-grids, and other smart local energy solutions as agreed with CINEA. Roadmaps must include pre-feasibility analysis (technical, legal, financial), stepwise implementation plan (inventories, engineering, procurement, financing), resource planning, stakeholder roles, monitoring commitments and demonstrable tangible economic benefits for residents.

Expected quantitative and qualitative impacts and indicators

Proposals must quantify expected results at project end and 5 years after project end using topic-specific indicators plus standard LIFE-CET common indicators. Topic-specific indicators include number of scale-up roadmaps developed and finalised, number of smart local energy solutions projected to be implemented, number of local authorities and stakeholders supported, number of peer-to-peer / capacity building activities, number of local authority staff and stakeholders with increased capacity, number of citizens involved. Common LIFE-CET indicators to quantify: investments in sustainable energy triggered (cumulative, in million EUR), primary energy savings triggered (GWh/year), renewable energy generation triggered (GWh/year), greenhouse gas emissions reduction (tCO2-eq/year). Proposals should also provide bespoke indicators relevant to their activities.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Eligible applicants:consortia of organisations established in LIFE-eligible countries. Proposals must be submitted by at least three independent beneficiaries (not affiliated entities) from three different eligible countries. Local authorities applying for lump-sum grants must be located in LIFE eligible countries and need a politically approved Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) or equivalent to be eligible for a lump-sum award. Local authorities applying for lump sums must commit to at least one year of implementation monitoring and demonstrate governance, engagement strategy and implementation potential.

Eligible applicant types:Eligible applicant types envisaged include: local authorities, local/regional energy agencies, municipal groupings, city networks, research organisations, NGOs, non-profit organisations, private sector partners (technology/service providers, financial actors), public authorities, and other organisations able to implement capacity building, award and manage lump-sum grants and capitalisation activities. The consortium should be deeply rooted in municipal sustainable energy/climate planning and investments and demonstrate strong outreach to cities (example cooperation with Covenant of Mayors).

Geographic eligibility:LIFE eligible countries only. Proposals must include beneficiaries from three different eligible countries. Local authorities receiving lump sums must be located in LIFE eligible countries.

Funding modalities, Third-Party Financial Support and Lump Sums

The call uses the LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based model. Funding rate:95% for Other Action Grants. The awarded consortium will provide financial support to third parties (local authorities) in the form of lump sum grants. Lump sums are expected to represent around 70% of the proposal budget. Maximum lump sum per local authority: €60,000. The awarded consortium must organise a minimum of two open calls for lump-sum proposals, with award criteria and processes conforming to EU standards for transparency, equal treatment, conflict of interest and confidentiality. Award criteria and number of calls must be agreed and validated by CINEA prior to launch.

Financial management expectations for lump sum grants:Applicants must describe the types of activities and final deliverable (scale-up roadmap) that third parties may receive lump-sum support for. Applicants must detail publication and promotion of calls, submission and evaluation procedures, technical monitoring of lump sums, selection criteria (relevance, maturity, impact, stakeholder involvement), distribution of funds, conflict of interest management, transparency and confidentiality arrangements, and support to applicants in preparing applications. Final award criteria for the lump sums must be validated by CINEA.

Capacity Building and Peer-to-Peer Requirements

Capacity building must target local authorities and their stakeholders (DSOs, service providers, consultants, citizens, communities, financiers) focusing on: identification of relevant smart solutions by mobilising existing EU-level resources (Horizon Europe projects, Scalable Cities), how to develop a scale-up roadmap once lump sum awarded, operationalisation of roadmaps, and exchange of best practices including national-level activities. Activities may include site visits, workshops, templates, masterclasses and potential call for expert cities to act as mentors. The consortium should provide outreach and recruitment support for local authorities and include plans for peer-to-peer and transfer activities.

Requirements for Local Authorities Applying for Lump Sums

To apply for a lump-sum grant, a local authority must provide:description of the smart solution(s) to be addressed, current technology readiness level, envisaged financial solutions, governance arrangements to implement the roadmap, clarity on planning processes and resources, demonstration of implementation potential, political approval of a SECAP (or equivalent), stakeholder engagement strategy (technical, financial, operational), citizen engagement and commitment to at least one year of implementation monitoring. Local authorities must be in LIFE eligible countries.

1. 1At least three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries must submit the proposal.
2. 2Lump-sum grants: maximum €60,000 per local authority; lump sums should be circa 70% of total project budget.
3. 3Minimum two open calls for lump sums must be organised by the consortium.
4. 4Selection, award, monitoring and distribution of lump sums must follow EU transparency and procurement-like standards and be validated by CINEA.

Monitoring, Capitalisation and Dissemination

The project must establish a monitoring framework for commitments, solutions to be implemented and expected impacts of roadmaps (quantified at project end and 5 years after). It must capitalise on success stories, produce communication materials, publish results and lessons learned, and ensure that roadmaps are undersigned at executive level by relevant local stakeholders. The project must support replication and scaling across Europe and coordinate with existing EU city initiatives (Smart Cities & Communities Lighthouse, Scalable Cities, Covenant of Mayors).

Evaluation, Award and Administrative Conditions

Admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity checks, exclusion grounds, evaluation criteria and timelines are provided in the call document and the LIFE call annexes. Submission is single-stage; proposals must respect proposal page limits and use the standard LIFE application templates available in the Submission System. The Online Manual and LIFE call documentation (Model Grant Agreement, guidance, annotated MGA) must be consulted for details. Standard LIFE rules apply for record-keeping, reporting, auditing, recoveries and final payments. CINEA will validate lump-sum awarding criteria and may require agreement on the number of calls and award processes.

Administrative, Legal and Financial Templates and Requirements

Applicants must use the LIFE application form templates (Part A administrative forms generated in the Submission System; Part B technical description PDF uploaded to the system). Annexes required include the detailed budget table, participant information, co-financing declarations if requested, and other LIFE-specific templates. Reporting will follow the portal continuous reporting and periodic reporting templates. The grant will be implemented under the LIFE Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and associated annexes (LIFE MGA, Lump Sum MGA templates where applicable).

Topic-specific scientific / technical and operational requirements

Technical requirements and expectations include:the ability to mobilise and translate demonstrated solutions into full-scale market-ready infrastructure via standardised scale-up roadmap methodology; capacity to deliver pre-feasibility analysis (technical, legal, financial), detailed implementation steps (inventories, engineering, procurement, financing), internal resource planning, stakeholder role analysis and executive-level sign-off of roadmaps. Proposals should emphasise governance, stakeholder coordination (system operators, technology/service providers, financiers, community actors), and alignment with national and EU planning instruments. Applicants should quantify expected investments triggered, energy and emission impacts and clearly explain baselines and causality between actions, results and impacts.

1. 1Standardised scale-up roadmap components: pre-feasibility analysis, step-by-step implementation sequence, internal resource plan, stakeholder roles and commitments, monitoring plan and executive-level signatory process.
2. 2Capacity building elements: identification of replicable solutions, roadmap development training, best-practice exchanges, mentorship via expert city calls, site visits and masterclasses.
3. 3Lump-sum implementation: local authorities use lump sums to produce scale-up roadmaps focused on smart local energy solutions demonstrated by EU-funded projects.
4. 4Monitoring & evaluation: quantify indicators at project end and 5 years after; include capitalisation and dissemination of success stories.

Target Project Stage and Technology Focus

Project stage:Scaling up / validation to market deployment. The call targets solutions already demonstrated under EU programmes at pilot or demonstrator stage that are ready to be expanded, replicated or scaled in new local authorities. Technology and thematic focus: smart distributed energy solutions for improved energy affordability including digital energy management, storage, bi-directional EV charging, microgrids, energy sharing and community-scale storage, heating and cooling solutions, demand-side flexibility and other smart city energy solutions compatible with local contexts.

Targeted Sectors, Beneficiaries and Geographic Scope

Target sectors:urban energy systems, buildings energy management, local renewable generation and storage, mobility electrification (V2G), district heating/cooling and local grids. Beneficiaries targeted by the initiative: local authorities and their stakeholders (system operators, local/regional energy agencies, technology/service providers, financial actors, community organisations and citizens). Geographic scope: LIFE-eligible countries (EU Member States and other countries eligible under the LIFE programme).

Funding Type, Application Process and Timetable

Funding type:EU action grant (LIFE-PJG) — Other Action Grant (OAG), primarily as budget-based grant with significant financial support to third parties in the form of lump sums. Application type: open single-stage call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using LIFE application templates (Part A and Part B). Key dates: opening 21 April 2026; deadline 16 September 2026. Evaluation follows LIFE call procedures and timelines (see call document Section 5 and 8).

Number of stages and success probability:Application stages: single-stage call. Success rates: not specified in call; typical LIFE project selection rates vary by topic and year and depend on evaluation ranking and available budget. Applicants should assume competitive selection and align proposals with award criteria in the Call document.

Application forms, Templates and Annexes

Applicants must use the standard LIFE application templates available in the Submission System. Mandatory templates and annexes include the LIFE SAP/OAG application form (Part B technical description), detailed budget table (LIFE detailed budget table XLS/XLSX), participant information annex, co-financing declarations where relevant, maps or site descriptions if relevant, complementary funding plan and declaration for SIP/SNAP where relevant, and any specific annexes required in the call document. Applicants must respect page and formatting limits described in the call and template instructions. Lump-sum awarding procedures must be documented in the proposal and conform to LIFE Third-Party financial support rules.

1. 1Application Part A: Administrative data entered in the Portal screens.
2. 2Application Part B: Technical Description uploaded as PDF (use the correct LIFE template).
3. 3Annex: Detailed budget table (LIFE Detailed Budget Table template).
4. 4Annex: Participant information template (to be filled for each participant).
5. 5Annex: Cofinancing declaration or complementary funding plan (if applicable).
6. 6Annex: Any required supporting documents (maps, letters of support, evidence of SECAP for lump-sum applicants).

Evaluation and Award Criteria — What proposals must demonstrate

Proposals must demonstrate:clear work plan and methodology that links activities to outputs and impacts with robust baselines and assumptions; strong consortium rooted in municipal sustainable energy planning and investments; ability to mobilise and reach a critical mass of cities; robust processes and capacity to award and manage lump-sum grants in line with EU requirements; detailed capacity building and peer exchange programme; standardised scale-up roadmap methodology and tools; monitoring and M&E framework for LIFE-CET indicators; sound budget with lump sums at approximately 70% of total budget; communication, capitalisation and replication strategy; alignment and coordination with EU initiatives (Covenant of Mayors, Smart Cities Lighthouse); risk management and quality assurance mechanisms.

Risk Management, Governance and Quality Assurance Expectations

Proposals should include a clear governance structure, management and decision-making arrangements, internal quality assurance, and risk management framework. They must describe procurement and subcontracting rules, conflict of interest procedures, data protection arrangements and how they will ensure transparency and equal treatment in third-party award processes. The consortium must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to run the large-scale awarding and monitoring of lump-sum grants and to deliver capitalisation and replication activities across multiple countries.

Success Indicators and Post-Project Sustainability

Success will be assessed using the call and LIFE award criteria and based on performance against the indicators listed above. Proposals must include an After-LIFE sustainability plan for continuing support, maintaining momentum, institutionalising roadmap follow-up processes, scaling replication and continuing monitoring of implementation commitments and actual investments triggered after project end.

Categorisation and Structured Extraction — Answers

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Consortium members from LIFE-eligible countries. Expected applicant types include: local authorities, local/regional energy agencies, municipal groupings, city networks, research and knowledge organisations, NGOs and non-profits, private sector technology and service providers (as beneficiaries or partners), financial institutions (as partners), and other public bodies able to implement capacity building, award lump-sum grants and capitalisation activities.
2. 2Funding Type: EU action grant under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme (LIFE Project Grants, Other Action Grants). Primary mechanism: grant (budget-based) with financial support to third parties via lump sums. Funding modalities include actual cost reimbursement, lump-sum third-party awards and flat-rate components at LIFE rules.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Consortium of multiple legal entities required. Minimum: at least three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries (beneficiaries must not be affiliated entities).
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): LIFE eligible countries (EU Member States and other countries eligible under LIFE). Local authorities receiving lump sums must be in LIFE-eligible countries.
5. 5Target Sector: Clean energy transition at local/city level; thematic sectors include smart local energy systems, distributed generation, community energy, storage, EV smart charging (bi-directional), energy management systems, heating and cooling solutions and micro-grids. Cross-cutting: capacity building, governance, financing, digitalisation.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: No specific Member States named in topic text. Region: EU / LIFE eligible countries.
7. 7Project Stage: Expected maturity: replication / scale-up of proven demonstrators (solutions demonstrated under EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE). Projects should target TRL ready for market deployment (scaling/replication stage) rather than technology R&D.
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative topic budget: €6,000,000. Commission suggests proposals requesting up to €6 million would be appropriate. Lump-sum third-party grants: maximum €60,000 per local authority. Lump sums should represent around 70% of total project budget.
9. 9Application Type: Open single-stage call via EU Funding & Tenders Portal using standard LIFE application templates. Applicants must use submission system templates and follow page limits and formatting requirements.
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary (direct grants to consortium and financial support to third-party local authorities in lump sums) plus non-monetary support (capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, technical assistance, mentoring, monitoring and communication).
11. 11Application Stages: 1 (single-stage).
12. 12Success Rates: Not provided in call. Selection competitive; applicants should assume limited number of awards. Topic budget indicates one proposal will be selected for the EMPOWER initiative.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Not explicitly required at project level in the topic text. LIFE often requires co-financing; applicants must consult call document and financial rules. The funding rate for OAGs is 95%, implying limited beneficiary co-financing may be expected. The detailed budget and co-financing rules appear in the LIFE call documentation and Annexes.
14. 14Templates: Applicants must use the LIFE application templates available in the Portal Submission System. Required templates and annexes include: Standard application form (Part A generated in Portal; Part B uploaded as PDF), detailed budget table (LIFE template), participant information template, co-financing declaration (if applicable), maps and descriptions (if applicable), complementary funding plan and declaration (if applicable), and Model Grant Agreement and relevant annexes. Application structure: Part A administrative forms (entered in Portal); Part B technical description (structured sections 1–5, including work plan, impact indicators, implementation, resources, risk management) following the LIFE SAP / OAG template. Specific required annexes for LIFE CET are listed in the call documentation. Applicants must include Annexes describing lump-sum award mechanism, scale-up roadmap template, monitoring framework and sample roadmap output specifications.

How to Prepare a Competitive Proposal — Key Requirements to Include

Applicants should ensure the following elements are fully and clearly addressed in the proposal: solid situational analysis and baselines; quantified, verifiable indicators at project end and 5 years post-project; a credible, standardised method to develop scale-up roadmaps; precise design and legal/financial governance for awarding lump sums (transparent calls, selection criteria, conflict-of-interest safeguards, cost-efficiency assessment and CINEA validation); capacity building programme targeting local authorities and stakeholders with clear curricula; logistics and outreach plan to mobilise local authorities including under-represented or smaller municipalities; monitoring, evaluation and data gathering plan aligned with LIFE-CET KPIs; financial plan where lump sums represent ~70% of the budget and management costs and other direct costs are justified; communications, capitalisation and replication strategy demonstrating how lessons and roadmaps will be shared across Europe; risk register and management measures; consortium track record and evidence of mobilisation capacity with city networks (e.g. Covenant of Mayors).

Summary: What this Opportunity Is About

This LIFE-2026 call topic seeks a single consortium to set up and manage EmpowerEUcities — an EU-level initiative that scales up proven smart, clean and energy-efficient solutions in European cities to improve energy affordability and local renewable consumption. The selected consortium will deliver a programme combining capacity building, peer exchange, communication and a competitive scheme to award lump-sum grants (max €60,000 each) to local authorities so they can produce signed scale-up roadmaps and prepare market-ready roll-out of proven demonstrators. The project must monitor results and impacts, quantify energy and investment outcomes, capitalise lessons and enable replication across LIFE-eligible countries. Minimum consortium composition: three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries. The Commission indicates around €6 million of EU funding for this topic with a 95% funding rate for OAGs. Proposals must use LIFE templates, follow call rules and demonstrate strong municipal energy expertise, third-party award capacity and an effective roadmap methodology to translate demonstrations into infrastructure delivering tangible benefits for citizens.

Opportunity Overview

This is a single-stage call for proposals under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme LIFE-2026. The call aims to establish the EmpowerEUcities support initiative to accelerate the roll-out of smart distributed energy solutions that help provide tangible economic benefits for citizens in European cities. Only one proposal will be selected to set up and manage this integrated initiative.

Call Reference:LIFE-2026

Opening Date:21 April 2026

Deadline:16 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time

Total Budget Available:€6,000,000

Funding Details

Type of Action:LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG), Other Action Grants (OAGs) - Coordination and Support Actions (CSA)

Funding Rate:95% of eligible costs

Indicative Grant Amount:The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to €6 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately. However, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Budget Allocation Structure:Lump sum grants should represent around 70 percent of the total budget of the proposal. The maximum value for a lump sum grant is €60,000. A minimum of two calls for proposals should be organised by the awarded consortium.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants:Any legal entity based in the European Union or in countries associated with the LIFE Programme can apply. LIFE project applications can be submitted by a single organisation or by several entities working in collaboration with other partners, but not by individuals.

Consortium Requirements:Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.

Eligible Countries:All LIFE eligible countries, which include EU Member States and associated countries such as Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Ukraine.

Consortium Expectations:The consortium applying to implement EmpowerEUcities should be deeply rooted in municipal sustainable energy and climate planning and investments. Applicants should demonstrate ability to mobilise a critical mass of cities and municipalities or their groupings and have a sound and inclusive outreach strategy to cities and municipalities across Europe, for instance through cooperation with city networks such as the EU Covenant of Mayors. The consortium should demonstrate expertise on implementation of smart energy solutions at local level, including legal, social and financial aspects, and on implementation of funding mechanisms in line with EU requirements.

Project Objectives and Scope

The EmpowerEUcities initiative aims to accelerate the roll-out of smart distributed energy solutions that help provide tangible economic benefits for citizens in European cities. The initiative will deliver scale-up roadmaps agreed between local authorities and relevant stakeholders such as system operators, technology and service providers, financiers, and community actors to translate solutions demonstrated under EU programmes (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund) into full-scale, market-ready infrastructure.

Key Activities:

• Capacity building and peer-to-peer learning for local authorities and stakeholders
• Delivery of lump sum grants to local authorities
• Monitoring, capitalisation and communication of results
• Development of scale-up roadmaps for smart energy solutions
• Exchange of best practices at national and European levels

Smart Solutions Covered:Solutions could cover energy sharing, community-scale storage and other storage solutions, bi-directional EV charging infrastructure, energy management systems, heating and cooling systems, and micro-grids. Other relevant focus areas may be considered by EmpowerEUcities in agreement with CINEA.

Requirements for Capacity Building Activities

Capacity building support should target local authorities and relevant stakeholders, focusing on identification of smart solutions relevant for their needs by mobilising existing resources available at EU level (e.g. through Horizon Europe projects or Scalable Cities) and on how to develop a scale-up roadmap once they receive the lump sum grant. Capacity building activities should include opportunities for exchange of best practices, including potentially at national level, with a view to remove existing barriers and enable uptake and efficient operationalisation of the roadmaps. Activities could include site visits, workshops, transfer of actionable approaches and templates, masterclasses, and peer-to-peer mentorship matchmaking.

Requirements for Lump Sum Grants Management

Lump sum grants should represent around 70 percent of the total budget of the proposal. The maximum value for a lump sum grant is €60,000. A minimum of two calls for proposals should be organised by the awarded consortium. Applicants should clearly specify the type of activities and, in particular, the final deliverable (the scale-up roadmap), for which a third party may receive financial support. The process and criteria for allocation of financial support to third parties need to conform to EU standards concerning transparency, equal treatment, conflict of interest and confidentiality.

Proposals should explain in detail how they intend to manage the publication and promotion of calls for proposals, the submission and evaluation of proposals, the technical monitoring of the lump-sum grants and the distribution of funds in accordance with EU funding requirements. They should demonstrate ability to select the most cost-efficient and appropriate applications considering the relevance and maturity of the concept, the nature and impact of the solution or intervention considered, the need for intervention, and involvement from relevant stakeholders.

Requirements for Local Authorities Applying for Lump Sum Grants

In order to apply for a lump sum grant, local authorities should describe the smart solution(s) they intend to address, their technological readiness level, the type of financial solutions envisaged and the governance to implement the concept as per the roadmap. Additionally, they should clarify existing planning processes and resources and demonstrate a substantial potential for implementation of the solution in the context targeted. A politically approved Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), or equivalent, is a pre-requisite to apply for funding. Furthermore, they need to propose a convincing strategy to engage key stakeholders in technical, financial and operational areas, as well as citizens, and commit to a monitoring of implementation for at least 1 year. Local authorities must be located in a LIFE eligible country.

Scale-Up Roadmap Requirements

A roadmap should focus on a specific smart solution, or a set of solutions, which should be identified in the application to the lump-sum grant. Smart solutions to be implemented under the scale-up roadmaps should be based on successful demonstration projects in smart, clean and energy efficient energy solutions that contribute to improving energy affordability for European citizens, amongst others by facilitating local consumption and production of renewable energy.

The consortium should prepare a standardised approach for the development of the scale-up roadmaps, including pre-feasibility analysis for the implementation of the specific smart solution (including technical, legal and financial aspects), identification of the different steps required to implement the selected solution (such as inventories, engineering, procurement, financing), detailed planning and analysis of internal resources needed for implementation, and detailed analysis of the role of local stakeholders. The roadmaps should be undersigned at executive level by the local stakeholders relevant for its implementation and should demonstrate how the supported solution(s) delivers tangible economic benefits for local residents and communities, for instance in terms of savings on the energy bills of consumers or revenues generated for citizens.

Expected Impacts and Indicators

Qualitative Impact:Proposals should demonstrate how they will contribute to empower local ecosystems to bring to scale smart, clean and energy efficient energy solutions that contribute to improving energy affordability for European citizens, amongst others by facilitating local consumption and production of renewable energy.

Topic-Specific Quantitative Indicators:

• Number of scale-up roadmaps developed and finalised, in line with the requirements
• Number of smart local energy solutions (projected to be) implemented
• Number of local authorities and stakeholders supported by EmpowerEUcities
• Number of peer-to-peer and capacity building activities
• Number of local authority staff and stakeholders with increased capacity on the planning, design and implementation of smart local energy solutions
• Number of citizens involved in the activities and Scale-Up Roadmaps

Common LIFE Clean Energy Transition Sub-Programme Indicators:

• Investments in sustainable energy (energy efficiency and small-scale renewables) triggered by the project (cumulative, in million Euro)
• Primary energy savings triggered by the project (GWh per year)
• Renewable energy generation triggered by the project (GWh per year)
• Reduction of greenhouse gases emissions (in tCO2-eq per year)

The results and impacts should be quantified for the end of the project and for 5 years after the end of the project. Proposals should also provide indicators which are specific to their proposed activities.

Application Process and Documentation

Submission Method:Applications must be submitted online via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The submission system will be available from the opening date.

Application Form Structure:Part A contains structured administrative information generated by the IT system. Part B is a narrative technical description of the project that must be downloaded, completed and re-uploaded as PDF.

Page Limits:The application form has specific page limits as detailed in the call document. Supporting documents can be provided as annexes and do not count towards the page limit. Minimum font size is Arial 10 points, page size is A4, and margins (top, bottom, left and right) must be at least 15 mm.

Language:Applications can be submitted in any official EU language, though the project abstract or summary should be in English. For efficiency, English is strongly advised for the entire application.

Key Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on relevance, impact, and implementation quality. Evaluators will assess how well proposals address the call objectives, demonstrate credible and ambitious impacts, and present a realistic and well-structured implementation plan. The evaluation will also consider the consortium's capacity to deliver the initiative and the sustainability of results beyond the project period.

Important Contextual Information

This call is launched in the context of the Citizens Energy Package communication, which aims to reduce energy bills, address energy poverty and empower citizens to actively participate in the energy transition. The initiative builds on the strengths and expertise of other EU city initiatives, in particular the Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Programme and Scalable Cities, and strengthens the implementation arm of the Covenant of Mayors to help cities deliver on their 2030 and 2050 political commitments through the implementation of actions identified in their climate and energy action plans. ¹

The EU is facing important increases in energy prices, driven by market volatility and exacerbated by its dependence on imported fossil fuels. A key priority for the EU is to strengthen the resilience of its energy system vis-a-vis geopolitical crises impacting the global energy market. Therefore, applicants under this topic are invited, where possible, to develop and implement long-term structural sustainable and energy efficiency measures to enhance EU energy system resilience against future crises, in coherence with short-term energy relief measures needed to respond to the current shock on the global energy markets.

Support and Resources

Applicants are encouraged to consult the LIFE database to review previously funded projects. For the Clean Energy Transition sub-programme, projects funded previously under Horizon 2020 can be found on the CORDIS website. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides an Online Manual with step-by-step guidance through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on ongoing projects. National Contact Points (NCPs) are available to provide support and guidance to applicants. The IT Helpdesk can assist with technical questions regarding the submission system.

Key Dates and Timeline

Additional Considerations for Applicants

Applicants should note that only one proposal will be selected under this call. This means competition will be intense and proposals must be of exceptional quality and demonstrate clear added value. The consortium must demonstrate deep expertise in municipal sustainable energy and climate planning, strong networks with cities and municipalities across Europe, and proven capacity to implement complex funding mechanisms in line with EU requirements. Proposals should clearly articulate how they will reach out to potential applicants and support them to prepare applications for lump sum grants. The initiative must establish lasting and institutionalised LHCP planning and governance frameworks under the responsibility of the targeted municipalities and regions, which may include dedicated structures, hubs, or task forces to support the implementation of scale-up roadmaps in the territories covered.

Footnotes

1. 1The Citizens Energy Package communication and related EU policy documents are available on the European Commission website. Additional information on the Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Programme and Scalable Cities can be found through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and relevant programme websites.